With the campaign period yet to officially start, a new BusinessWorld-Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found 42% of respondents saying they would vote for Mr. Aquino, four points down from the 46% who said so in an early December poll that was also commissioned by this newspaper.

Over the period Mr. Villar, Mr. Aquino’s top challenger, picked up eight points to secure the nod of 35%, up from 27%.
Mr. Aquino — who has led the voter preference surveys since his
surprise bid for the presidency last year — saw his lead cut by a significant margin. From nineteen points in the Dec. 5-10 BW-SWS poll, he is now ahead of Mr. Villar by just seven.

The narrowing gap was also recorded in a Dec.27-28 SWS poll commissioned by a legislator (See table).

Still in third, meanwhile, was former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, who lost three points to 13% from 16% previously.

The Jan. 21-24 SWS survey asked 2,100 adults nationwide the question: “Sa mga sumusunod na pangalan sa listahang ito, sino po ang malamang ninyong iboboto bilang Presidente ng Pilipinas, kung ang eleksyon ay gaganapin ngayon? (Among the names found on this list, who will you probably vote for as President of the Philippines if the elections were held today?) The error margin used was ±2%.

Still in fourth, meanwhile, was the administration’s bet, former Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” C. Teodoro, Jr. of the Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-Kampi-CMD). His score dipped to 4% from 5% in December.

Fifth place, with 2% from 1% in the previous survey, went to Bro. Eduardo “Eddie” C. Villanueva of the Jesus is Lord movement who is running under the Bangon Pilipinas Movement.

Sen. Richard “Dick” J. Gordon of the Bagumbayan-New Volunteers for a Philippines party picked up a few more voters to score 2%, up from 0.9%, while independent candidate Sen. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” A.S. Madrigal’s support was at 0.4% from 0.2%.

Mr. Acosta, who was not included in the previous survey, got 0.3%; John Carlos “JC” G. de los Reyes of the Ang Kapatiran Party saw his score hit 0.2% from 0.1%, while Mr. Perlas improved to 0.1% from 0.03%.

Mr. Aquino declined to answer phone calls, saying instead in a text message that he would “reserve comment until we have had a chance to study it (the survey results).” “We are getting conflicting numbers, hence my hesitancy in responding.”

Speaking on behalf of Mr. Villar, former Cavite representative and now NP spokesman Gilbert C. Remulla said: “It was no wonder why Sen. Villar’s detractors revived the C-5 issue, throwing those baseless accusations against him knowing fully well it was survey period.”

Mr. Remulla was referring to an ongoing Senate inquiry regarding alleged ethical misconduct by Mr. Villar over funding for a national road project.

“Forecasts … are proving to be correct that there is upward trend for Sen. Villar and downward trend for Sen. Aquino. It gives us further confidence that we will achieve statistical parity by next month. We expect the trend to continue,” he said.

Mr. Estrada’s spokesperson Margaux M. Salcedo, meanwhile, said in a telephone interview: “[The two-point decline] is still within the margin of error. At least his rating is steady.”

She also said the Comelec’s recent decision to allow Mr. Estrada to run amid electoral protests would “take time to sink in.”

“Expectedly, it will take a while for news to get around,” she said.

Mr. Teodoro and the other presidential candidates were not immediately available for comment.

Filipinos will troop to the polls on May 10 to pick Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s successor. – Gerard S. dela Peña

Senator Manuel “Mar” A. Roxas appears to have picked up momentum as the leading contender for the country’s second-highest elective post.

A Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll commissioned by BusinessWorld found the Liberal Party bet the top choice for vice-president from the official Commission on Elections list of eight contenders, with a score of 49%. This was up six points from the 43% notched in an early December survey also commissioned by this newspaper.

In second with a four-point drop was the Nacionalista Party’s Sen. Loren B. Legarda who was the pick of 28%.
Third place went to Makati Mayor Jejomar “Jojo” Binay of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan, who gained six points to 16%.

Asked to comment, Mr. Roxas said “people perhaps thought things over last Christmas. Mahirap magsalita (It is hard to make assumptions).”

Mr. Roxas last year dropped long-held ambitions for the presidency in favor of Mr. Aquino, who was pushed to the forefront following the death of his mother, former President Corazon C. Aquno. Mr. Aquino, however, has since seen a once formidable lead slip to just seven points versus Ms. Legarda’s running mate, Sen. Manuel B. Villar, Jr.

Mr. Binay’s media officer Joey Salgado, meanwhile, welcomed his candidate’s gain.
“We’re happy. Mayor Binay started at zero compared to other candidates who are already known personalities. The campaign has not started yet and we’re already getting support,” he claimed.

Percentages for the remaining vice-presidential candidates did not change significantly from the December survey.
Tied at fourth and fifth with 2% each were Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani “BF” F. Fernando and actor and former Optical Media Board chief Eduardo “Edu” B. Manzano.Mr. Manzano, the administration bet, got 3% the last time.

An administration ally and two opposition bets are currently the voters’ top picks among an extensive list of aspirants vying for Senate seats in the upcoming May 10 elections.

A Jan. 21-24 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey done for BusinessWorld, the results of which were released before the offical campaign period starts next week, put re-electionist Ramon B. Revilla Jr. of the administration party Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) on top with the support of 58% of the respondents.

Following close behind were Pilar Juliana “Pia” S. Cayetano of the Nacionalista Party (NP) and Jose “Jinggoy” E. Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP). Both got a 57% rating.

People’s Reform Party bet Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who came first in the previous BW-SWS Pre-election Survey last Dec. 5-10, slipped to third with five-point drop to 50%.

Comprising the lineup of those likely to win Senate seats, the SWS said, are:

With statistical chances of making it were Gwendolyn C. Pimentel-Gana (Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan), the daughter of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. who scored 23%.
Just outside the bounds, said the SWS, was Muntinlupa City Rep. Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon (LP) with 21%.

The SWS asked 2,100 adults to choose up to 12 names from a list of 62 candidates that was pre-approved by BusinessWorld.

Sought for comment, Ms. Cayetano said: “It’s always encouraging when one’s work is recognized by the people. The campaign period will start soon and I will continue to make known the kind of work I’ve done.”

Mr. Drilon, for his part, said: “The fourth position and the 47% rating is good. We have not yet started the campaign period and there’s a lot more room for improvement.”

For his part, Mr. Enrile, who got an increase from last December’s 37%, said: “I am grateful that I have increased my acceptability to the people but we do not know yet how things will develop during the election day. I will keep on working to serve the people.”

The other candidates were not immediately available for comment.– J. F. S. Valdez

1) In Davao, a survey released by the office of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte shows Erap surging to 2nd place with 27 percent (from 11 percent) closing the gap of 40 percent points with Noynoy Aquino who recorded 36 percent (from 51 percent) among 2,954 respondents. Sen. Manny Villar was in third place with 15 percent.

2) Pres. Erap now leading in North Cotabato.

3) 1st district of North Cotabato reported that in mock elections he conducted in Midsayap, Erap got 88 percent of the votes.

4) In Koronadal City, South Cotabato, 20,000 persons cheered Erap at the track and field stadium as he proclaimed PMP candidates led by Fernando Miguel, candidate for governor and Junette Hurtado for vice governor.

5) In Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat, Vice Mayor Florante Agduma and Mayor Ramon Abalos led another cheering crowd of 5,000 at the gymnasium.

6) The same enthusiasm was shown by thousands in the remote town of Mati, capital of Davao Oriental. Erap’s party was warmly welcomed by Mayor Michelle Rabat.

7) Erap’s two-day swing to the four provinces was highlighted by a lunch with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

8)Rep. Jose Solis (Lakas-Kampi, Sorsogon) and 14 vice mayors of Sorsogon have shifted their support to President Erap. Alan Lee, a native of Gubat Sorsogon, is Erap’s campaign coordinator for that province.

9)Board Member Jojo Alvarez who is running for mayor of Boac as an independent has now affiliated with PMP and is supporting Erap for President.

I’ve watched the ANC Youth forum and the lady senator with balls is doing a great job not with her platform but by informing the public about the corrupt presidentiable. I believe she is not running not just to win but most importantly is to prevent the kurakot and coward (no accountability) from winning the presidency. Muntik na sigurong maubos ang dugo ni Sen. Villar sa pamumutla during the forum hehehe

martina - February 2, 2010 2:59 pm

“…a new Business World-Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found 42% of respondents saying they would vote for Mr. Aquino, four points down from the 46% who said so in an early December poll that was also commissioned by this newspaper.” (quoted from above)

Villar was either lucky or was deliberately made to be lucky with the results of the Business World-commissioned SWS survey.

The survey was started Jan. 21st. There was not much C-5 issue raging in the news yet. The survey ended Jan. 24th, the day before the C-5 Enrile report hit the news headlines on Jan. 25th. So Villar was lucky.

Or could it have been that the survey was deliberately commissioned by Business World to be conducted before the Enrile Report hit the fan?

Who are the people behind the Business World newspaper? Have they also commissioned similar surveys in the past? Or is this the first time?

As Martina has asked, who is this Rene Azurin? And how influential is he in that newspaper?

Phil Cruz - February 2, 2010 4:42 pm

Actually, one has to give credit to those in charge of the ads of Villar. And course, his billions.

His TV messages are very sharply targeted. His endorsers pack power with the masa. His billions make that possible. Wowowee Willie, Michael V are power punchers.

Dolphy, the latest, is the strongest endorser, in my opinion. But this was surprising since he is considered one of the more credible and trustworthy individuals in showbiz. Why the heck would he go for Villar?

But Dolphy has been out of work for three years now. Finances were getting tight for him as he himself admits. So could a deal with the ultimate deal maker have been made?

Ahh..with billions, Manny V can do magic. And when he gets to the Presidency, he’ll weave that magic once again and make the people’s money disappear..and reappear into his bottomless pockets.